Toy gun.



G. A. M. LILJENGRANTZ. TOY GUN.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1913.

Patented Mar. 10, 1914.

GusrAvn A. M. LILJENCRANTZ, or CHICAGO, rumors.

TOY Gun.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar..1o,1a'14.

Application filed March 10, 1913. Serial No. 753,295.

To all whom it may concern:

- Be it known that I, GUSTAVE A. M. Lin- JnNoRANTz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Toy Guns, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to toy guns or pistols, and particularly to that type employing a cross-bow, or its equivalent, and a apted to project or shoot a projectile, preferably, consisting of a miniature aeroplane or dart made of a folded sheet of paper.

, One of the objects of my invention is to construct a toy gun of this character in such manner that it may be readily knocked-down and packed in a. comparatively small space.

Another object is to so construct the parts thereof that the un may be manufactured cheaply and simp y and not liable to get out of order.

It is also an object of my invention to so construct and arrange the parts of this toy gun that a single rubber or elastic band can be utilized both to project the aeroplane or dart, andto return the trigger to its normal position.

These objects I accomplish by the means and in the manner hereinafter fully described, and as particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my toy gun showing the same ready to project a dart or aeroplane; Fig. 2 is a similar view of the aeroplane or dart used in connection therewith. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the gun taken on line 33, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail of the trigger-mechanism showing one of the outer plates of the gun removed to better illustrate the arrangement of the parts.

Referring to the drawings, 1, 1, represents thepistol-shaped side-plates of my improved toy, each of which comprises a barrel-por tion and a handle portion. A filler-plate 3 is secured bet-ween the handle portions of the side-plates and its contours correspond to the same,,and a filler-strip 2 is inserted betweenand separates the barrel-portions of said side-plates. The upper and lower edges of the barrel portions of the latter are, preferably, parallel, and fillerstrip 2 has its lower straight edge flush with the lower edge of said barrel-portion, and its upper edge inclined upward from its rear end toward the discharge end of the gun. The thiclmess or distance between the upper and lower edges of the filler-strip is less than that of said barrel-portions, and when said filler-strip is secured between the sideplates 1, 1, in the manner stated, a longitudinal channel or groove is formed in the upper edge of the barrel of the gun, the bottom of which, owing to the inclined upper edge of the filler-strip, inclines upward from the inner end of the latter to the discharge end of the gun.

The rear end of filler-strip 2 and the forward edge of the filler-plate 3 terminate at such points that a chamber 4 isleft between the side-plates of the gun for the reception of the trigger 5, which is open both top and bottom. This trigger 5 has an upper rectangular-shaped body portion which is of such dnnensions that when placedin chamber 4, in such position that its forward vertical edge contacts with the rear end of the filler-strip 2, and it is pivoted by a pivotal pin 6 near its upper forward corner or angle, it canbe swung backward by pulling rearward on the curved lug 7 extending downward from its rear end.

The upper straight edges of the barrelportion of the side-plates terminate in shoulders 8 that are made by stepping said ed es downward, and the trigger is so positloned that when it is swung backward, in the manner just explained, the rear portion of its upper edge will rise above the upper edges of the side-plates and push the roar bend of the upper stretch 9 of an elastic band off shoulder 8 and discharge the gun.

In order to automatically return the trigger to its original position (in which its upper edge will be below the upper edges of the side-plates of the gun at the. base of the shoulder 8), the forward portion of its lower edge is. provided with a downwardly extending rearwardly bent hook 10, around which an independent elastic band, or the lower stretch or portion 11 of the elastic band, hereinbefore referred to, may be caught, to pull and keep the trigger normally engaging the rear end of the fillerstrip 2, and limit the forward movement of the same.

Near its discharge end, the barrel is provided on its underside ,with an upwardly cut transverse recess 12, in which a rigid non-flexible cross-bow 13 is tightly fitted by cut-ting a recess in the upper edge of the latter corresponding in width to the thickness of the barrel thereby making an interlocking mortised joint between the same that prevents both lateral and longitudinal movement of the cross-bar, but permits its removal from the gun downward. Notches 15 are cut in the outer extremities of the cross-bow 13, and the rubber or other elastic band has its ends looped therein so that the upper stretch 9 of the same may be brought back over the ends of the cross-bow 13 and caught over the shoulder 8 at the rear end of the barrel. The under stretch 11 of this rubber band is adapted to be drawn back below the barrel till'it engages and is looped over the hook-shaped lug 10 of the trigger 5.

The dart or aeroplane which I prefer to use in connection with this gun comprises a rectangular-shaped sheet of paper that is folded to form a pair of tapered horizontally disposed planes or wings 20, and a downwardly vertically disposed fin or keel 21 that extends longitudinally and centrally along the underside of the dart from end to end thereof.

In operation, after the portion rubber' band has been drawn back and caught over the shoulders 8 and the keel 21 of the aeroplane or dart is seated in the groove or guideway 22, the trigger is pulled toward the handle in the usual manner, and the upper edge of the same rises and pushes the rear bend of the rubber band off of shoulders 8. The rubber band thus released snaps forward and projects the dart into the air and causes it to soar for a comparatively long distance. On account of the groove orguideway 22 being deeper at its rear end, the dart will receive the full force of the contraction of the elastic band and launch the same on a spectacular flight that is very attractive. The inclined bottom of the groove in the barrel portion of the gun gives the dart an upward, as well as a forward movement, and materially aids in getting the air under its planes and prolongs its flight.

What I claim as new is:

1.. A toy gun comprising a barrel portion having a transvervc recess in the underside thereof near its forward end, and having a stepped rear end a rigid cross-bow havlng a transverse recess in its upper edge at its 9 of the center of length and adapted to be seated in the first mentioned mortise and removably interlock with said barrel, an elastic band mounted upon and, adapted to be stretched backward from the ends of said.

bow and the rear bend thereof caught over the stepped rear end of the upper edge of the barrel, and a trigger pivotally hung between the sides of said gun and adapted to release said rear bend of thestre'tc'hed elastic band. i

2. A. toy gun comprising a barrel portion having a longitudinal channel in its upper edge, the bottom of which inclines downward from the front toward the rear end, and having a transverse recess in the underside thereof near its forward end, and having a stepped rear end a rigid cross-bow having a transverse recess in its upper edge at its center of length and adapted to be seated in the first mentioned mortise and removably interlock with said barrel, an elastic band mounted upon and adapted to be stretched backward from the ends of said bow and the rear bend thereof caught over the stepped rear end of the upper edge of the barrel, and a trigger pivotally hung between the sides of said gun and adapted to release said rear bend of the stretched elastic band.

3. A toy comprising a barrel having a longitudinal groove in its upper edge and a stepped rear end near the rear of said groove on its upper edge, a pivoted member mov-- able past said stepped end, an elastic secured near the forward end of said barrel one portion of which is adapted to be stretched to and engage said stepped end in the path of said pivoted member and the other portion of which is connected to said pivoted memher and retains the latter normally out of 

